Notre Dame is up to 5-2 this season after a convincing win over USC on Saturday, Oct. 18. Not only is the team’s play garnering national attention, but its leader, Marcus Freeman, has been a popular name in the coaching carousel. With big-name programs desperate enough for coaching excellence to warrant more-than $50 million buyouts, Freeman’s name regularly appears in conversations for other top jobs after a national championship appearance and consecutive successful recruiting cycles at Notre Dame. Pete Bevacqua and Notre Dame need to do any and everything possible to keep Marcus Freeman. Where do they start?
The most obvious step is with money. Just a few hours south, Curt Cignetti received a large extension from the Indiana Hoosiers through 2033, paying over $11 million per year, Indiana announced earlier this month. Despite Indiana’s generous contract and his 64 years of age, Cignetti was still mentioned in Penn State’s initial talks after the Nittany Lions fired James Franklin.
On the contrary, Freeman is young, successful, charismatic and marketable, yet he is reportedly making just $7.4 million per year for the 26th highest salary in college football. He was extended last December, which, when kicked in, should produce payouts up to $9 million per season through 2030, placing him in the top 15 of salaries. But that has certainly not excluded Freeman’s name from the searches. While a bonus from his first contract with the Irish, it is still below what other programs are paying big-name coaches and what some of the biggest programs could offer.
What could the other programs offer? While every job that will be open by the end of the season is clearly not present yet, Penn State and Florida will likely be the biggest opportunities available, barring unforeseen chaos. These programs can give Freeman more resources for recruiting, which he has already shown to be a savant at, even with higher academic and character standards at Notre Dame. At Florida, Billy Napier had play-calling duties, football administrative power and a voice in the direction of the program. While Freeman has delegated many of these duties to his coordinators and the corresponding Notre Dame athletics leadership, if he wants more control in the specific direction of a more malleable program, these jobs could hold some appeal.
Freeman would also be given a larger recruiting bucket for NIL, more money to work with in the transfer portal and lower academic standards for players. Some of these schools may also be willing to pay Freeman a lot more. This kind of commitment from a big-time program would likely include a massive buyout with hefty bonuses.
So who is after Freeman? There have been rumors swirling about Freeman as both Penn State and Florida’s primary target. Even though he has consistently shown loyalty to the Irish, it won’t hurt these teams to at least attempt to lure him away.
Freeman’s loyalty certainly appears unwavering, but after what Irish fans experienced recently with Brian Kelly just a few off-seasons ago, Freeman is by no means locked into Notre Dame forever. The Irish coach has been floated to the NFL as a potential college coach capable of making a successful transition, and who’s to say he won’t try? After five seasons and a national championship at LSU, Nick Saban tried his hand at the NFL with the Dolphins. Just two seasons ago, Jim Harbaugh jumped back into the NFL after turning Michigan around. Notre Dame cannot let this happen and needs to take every precaution to keep Freeman around.
Although the University just extended Freeman in December, I argue that his salary number should be raised to avoid any concerns. It’s difficult to imagine a better coach for Notre Dame in this day and age. I won’t gloss over the fact that Freeman inherited a talented roster, capable athletic program and nationally renowned brand from Brian Kelly, as well as a storied Irish history. His contributions for the culture of Notre Dame, though, far exceed his recent predecessors and represent the pillars of the University every Saturday.
On top of the 38-12 record, National Championship Game appearance and multiple 10-win seasons, Freeman has undeniably changed the Notre Dame culture. He has reinstated the pre-game team mass, focused on player accountability and emphasized the “next man up” mentality. More than that, the players’ commitment to faith is evident in nearly every interview. Converting to Catholicism in August of 2022, Freeman personally aligns with the core message of Notre Dame and is thus the perfect person to lead the team.
So give him whatever he wants to stay and whatever his agent requests to be extended to. Freeman so well embodies the football program that he is arguably the most marketable and charismatic coach in college football today. With the success of Notre Dame football growing around the ethos of the Catholic faith and Freeman’s contributions, it is hard to imagine him leaving for another job in the collegiate ranks. I would be the first to say that Freeman is one of the most likely “lifers” in college football presently to actually remain in his post. As long as Freeman continues to win, which it doesn’t seem will change anytime soon, Notre Dame won’t want another coach for a long time.
